Signs GP co-payment working amid confusion

Colin Brinsden, AAP Economics Correspondent

The federal government's aim of using a $7 co-payment to make people think twice about going to the doctor appears to be having the desired effect, even though it doesn't start for another 10 months.

Sonic Healthcare, Australia's largest medical centre and pathology services operator, believes confusion about its introduction in July 2015 is putting people off visiting their GP.

The company says it has noticed a drop in the number of diagnostic tests requested since the controversial co-payment was announced in the May budget.

Confusion over the co-payment and other components of an unpopular budget, like tougher welfare rules, look like lingering for a while yet.

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For weeks, Treasurer Joe Hockey and other senior ministers have been crisscrossing the country trying to convince Senate crossbenchers to back the government's budget measures.

The treasurer is even talking up the possibility of compromise after what he described as "meaningful" discussions with senators.

"I think there is good will behind the scenes, on both sides," he told reporters in Geelong on Tuesday.

But Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambie believes government efforts have failed so far, rejecting suggestions from Health Minister Peter Dutton that negotiations had been "fruitful".

"When they're prepared to be big men and come to the table and want to negotiate correctly ... I guess we'll come out with much better outcomes," she said.

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews says the government is willing to negotiate on tough new work-for-the-dole provisions that deny payments to young people for six months.

"If we can have a starting point that has a sensible discussion about what the principle is behind these measures, then I'm sure we can come to some sensible conclusion," he said.

Federal Labor reckons Prime Minister Tony Abbott should provide Mr Hockey with an assistant minister as the government waits for Arthur Sinodinos to be cleared by a NSW corruption inquiry.

"We all know he needs it," shadow treasurer Chris Bowen said.

Labor also was quick to seize on Mr Hockey's suggestion he was misrepresented over his comments that the poorest people don't own cars.

The treasurer clearly remains annoyed with the way his remarks were reported by the media.

Asked whether his words had been "twisted", Mr Hockey told a Geelong radio station: "I think anyone who actually looks at what I actually said, as opposed to what people were reporting what I said, might form that view."

"But any words I use now will be again misinterpreted."

Mr Bowen responded by telling Mr Hockey it wasn't his words that had been twisted, it was his policies.

The government appears keen to have the Senate consider two of its unpopular measures - reintroduction of fuel excise indexation and the $5 increase in the pharmaceutical benefits scheme co-payment - as early as next week.